Manny Pacquiao’s sparring partner, Russian Rustam Nugaev and his manager Edourd Goumachian, were held by immigration employees upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Centennial terminal for not having the Philippine visa stamped on their passports.
They were later released after the Department of Foreign Affairs issued a visa waiver allowing them to stay in the country for 59 days, according to Naia-2 immigration supervisor Teodoro Pascual.
Pacquiao flew in from Los Angeles after four weeks of training at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood to face Mexican Oscar Larios in a 12-round bout on July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Filipino boxing idol has sparred several rounds with Nugaev, himself a top super-featherweight contender because of his punching prowess.
The Russian pugilist and his companion were held for almost five hours at the immigration office while his entry papers were being processed.
“Actually, we did not detain [them] but we have to wait for the DFA to issue a visa waiver for him to enter the country. There was already a verbal instruction with immigration officials at the Naia Terminal where [they] were supposed to arrive on board a northwest Airline [but] we did not expect [them] with Pacquiao’s entourage that arrived at the Naia Terminal-2,” Pascual told Standard Today.
“It is unfortunate that the necessary Philippine visa was not secured for the two Russians because of the belief that being a green-card holder and a US working visa-card holder, there was no need for the Philippine visa,” he noted, quoting from letter to Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Domingo Lucinario sent by Franklin Gacal, chief operations chief of MP Products.
Pacquiao was accompanied by his trainers Freddie Roach and Buboy Fernandez, manager Shelly finkel and Joe Ramos.
“I’m ready to meet him [Larios]. I’m confident to finish the fight early,” he said upon his arrival at the airport.
Larios is expected to plane in this week from Japan where he is winding up his workout. Vito Barcelo
